Crazy Donut Hair, Penny's stitches, Grazzini Family Dinner, Harmons Cooking Class Date Night, Prom

For crazy hair day, we did a donut bun on Nora's hair. We poked a hole through a plate and put her high ponytail hair through that, then made the bun. Then we painted the bun with pink tempura paint and put sprinkles on top. It looked pretty awesome. 

Poor Penny! She had knotted up hair clumps behind her ears. Annabelle tried to cut them out with scissors but accidentally cut Penny! We took her to the animal hospital and they stitched her up. We had her wear her cone for the next two weeks. 

My cousin Aunna was in town from Seattle so whoever could met up for dinner at Pizzeria Limone so we could visit. I hadn't seen my uncle or any of the Grazzini's since my mom's funeral 2 years ago so this really touched my heart to be with them. 

For Scott's birthday in January, one of his gifts from me was an experience. I signed us up for a cooking class at Harmon's where we'd learn to make butter chicken, basmati rice and naan bread. The class was in March. We had a lot of fun cooking together and also getting to know some of the other couples that were there. 

Charles and Elisabeth had Prom in the end of March. I loved that they went in the same friend group. I love that our 3 teens are all good friends; it makes this mama heart happy!

 

Temple trip, date night, Snow Blitz ski school, running and book submission, piano recital

I love this quote because it reminds us that we are not victims to our circumstances but that we can choose how to respond to our circumstances which is empowering. It allows us to see that ultimately we determine our destiny. 

We were able to get up early and go to the temple one morning with Gina and Skye; this was Charles first time being able to baptize which was fun.  

Dinner date night at Tsunami. This sushi restaurant is in the same parking lot as Scott's work so I met him up there. It was delicious. 

Elisabeth and Annabelle finished ski blitz, s program through the school district that allows the students to go skiing once a week for a month, with lessonsa nd transportation included (plus you can rent ski gear) for a discounted price. We were all for this since the older kids have been asking to go skiing or snowboarding for years but 1) it's expensive for a family of 7 who has no gear and 2)we don't have an AWD vehicle. The girls really enjoyed it and got pretty good over the 4 weeks of practice. 

I submitted my book to a publishing house again today (it's a fiction, clean romance). Yes, again. It's been rejected and reworked a few times already. But I'm not giving up. If this time doesn't work out I'll try to find a literary agent. And in the meantime I'll keep writing because I love to write and I have stories to tell. I wrote my first book back when I was attending BYU, around 2005. I never sent that book out. That seemed too scary. But I kept writing. 

Writing books reminds me sometimes of training for a marathon. You make this big, lofty, seemingly impossible goal and then you slowly start working your way toward that goal, through pain, sweat and tears, often praying for help along the way. Somtimes that help comes in the form of friends who encourage, motivate and run beside you. Like these two ladies who have been running training buddies for years. I ran my first half marathon with Elisa L (2016) and I've trained for all my marathons with Kim. They've also helped me with book editing as have a couple of other dear friends (Maren, April, Danielle, Scott). Marathon training has also helped me develop a more positive and perservering mindset (you'll quite running after several miles if you're allowing negative thoughts to linger) which in turn has helped me to get through the hard parts of book writing like never-ending edits and the rejections, as they come. Mindset metters. Prayer is real and powerful. Supportive friends and family are essential. 

Here are a couple of pictures from a recent combined Young Women activity. We went iceskating at the Cottonwood Heights rec center. 

And here's a picture of the girls at their piano recital. 

 

BYU Aspen Grove Marriage Retreat and Sweethearts Dance for the Teens

Scott and I (and Elisa and Mark Ludwig) went to Aspen Grove for another marriage retreat. Scott and I went several years ago as well when Hank Smith was the guest speaker. This time it was Dr Whiting, a marriage and family therapist and a professor of Marriage and family therapy at BYU. The messages were uplifting and inspiring, the food was yummy and we loved our free time hiking and playing games with friends. 

While we were out hiking, Elisabeth called with some news. She got into BYU provo for the Fall!!!! We're so happy and excited for her. 

Dr Whiting and his wife singing/playing a love song. 

We got to do a ropes course as well which was fun and a bit scary :). I won the sweatshirt I'm wearing in this photo for doing an instagram post and tagging byuaspengrove. I actually won 2 sweatshirts so we gave one to the Ludwigs. 

The day we got back from our overnighter marriage retreat, Elisabeth and Charles had their sweethearts dance. They both had a good time. 

 

Annabelle is 14!!!

Annabelle turned 14!!! We are so grateful her beautiful spirit was sent to our family. 

She wanted kreme filled, Krispie Kreme donuts for dessert, of course. 

 Happy Birthday dear Annabelle!

Young Women Activities, BYU gymnastics meets, Jane's first temple trip, indoor soccer and Valentine's Day

 4 of our 5 children are currently in the youth program at church. And Scott and I are both serving with the youth, so when we have our Wednesday night activities, we just drag Nora along and it's a family affair. 

We got season tickets to the BYU gymnastics meet and one week we ran into a couple of the Bitton's from Idaho. It was fun to see them again after having spent some time at their house this summer. 

Each January I order a family blog book from the previous year. I have one for every year since 2007 (so 14 I think). 

February Jane had her first trip to the temple to do baptisms. It's a little harder to go now since you have to make appointments and they tend to fill up fast, but we found that if we look each night, usually something will pop up. 

Nora is doing indoor soccer with her comp team and Annabelle with her rec team. Annabelle's team is the only rec team playing comp teams so it's been tough, but they've hung in there. Nora plays goalie for about half of each game. Not many people are willing and able to play goalie, but she is and she's awesome!  

Nora made a couple of Valentine's boxes for school and this is the one she decided to bring to school to collect her valentine's. 

Scott and I don't have very many Valentine's Day traditions, but I do make everyone a giant heart-shaped rice krispie treat (it's what my mom did; though I did have 1 child request a giant heart-shaped chocolate chip cookies instead so I did that for her) and Scott and I write love letters to each of the children and to each other. At the end of the day, I gather all the letters and put them in a shoe box for safe keeping. Elisabeth has 17 love letters from us now. 

A few of the kids have starting doing this as well, which I love, writing love letters to all their siblings and their parents. 

I love this quote from President Nelson reminding us of the unconditional, selfless love of Jesus Christ for each one of us. 

Scott's 41st Birthday

 
We had a birthday celebration weekend for Scott. Friday the family went to Comedy Sportz and then we got ice cream at the Creamery at BYU, Saturday we had a temple and dinner date at Taqueria27, and Sunday we cooked his favorite meals and opened gifts since Monday, his actual birthday, was a long day at work. 

Elisabeth got Scott a dad joke book which was very fitting since he literally shares dad jokes with us every night before bed. 

I got him the BYU sweatshirt he's wearing, a zip up sweatshirt since he left his favorite one in Mexico, some favorite treats and an experience: an Indian cooking class date-night at harmon's cooking school, but he'd have to wait for that class til March.

Happy Birthday to my best friend and eternal companion!